Armani: Stop the Killer Jeans

Sandblasting, which gives jeans a 'worn' or used look, is known to kill workers in garments producing countries like Turkey and Bangladesh where jeans sandblasting is done manually. The process involves workers firing sand under high pressure at jeans. Dust then enters the environment, exposing workers to silica, which causes silicosis in the lungs. Eventually, workers die because they cannot breathe properly anymore. There is no known cure. Some major brands, such as Levi's, H&M, C&A, Gucci, and most recently Versace have already abolished sandblasted jeans in their collections. But in the 'global center of fashion', Italian luxury brands like Armani have yet to publicly ban sandblasting from their supply chains! Thousands of lives are at risk... Join us in calling on Armani to ban sandblasting.

I am writing to bring your attention to serious health affects of factory workers who may be producing blue jeans for Armani.

As you may know, there has been increasing evidence that the fading of jeans through the process of manual sandblasting is presenting serious health risks to workers who apply it. Documented cases among sandblasting workers prove that exposure to this process can lead to silicosis, which in many cases is fatal.

Silicosis has long been associated with workers in the mining industry and it is only recently that this illness has been documented among garment workers. However, from the current evidence, it is clear that this is a particularly aggressive form of the disease. Unlike the chronic form common to miners, which can take 20 years to develop, the acute silicosis experienced by jeans sandblasters develops within 6 months to two years of exposure. Therefore, workers are at risk of developing the disease after a relatively short period of exposure. Sandblasting operators are falling gravely ill unexpectedly and suddenly.

But your company has yet to publicly ban sandblasting.

Given the gravity of the health impacts of this process, I am joining the call on Armani to publicly ban sandblasting from your supply chain and to take the steps needed to be able to guarantee that every pair of jeans sold by your company is “sandblast free”.

A number of other companies such as Levi-Strauss & Co., Benetton, New Look, Marks & Spencer, Gucci, Esprit and most recently Versace, have already made a commitment to ban sandblasting in the production of their blue jeans.

Will Armani join the ranks of these companies committed to a more responsible production?

I would appreciate a reply to responses@change.org. Your reply will be shared with the thousands of people all over the world joining this campaign.----------------